From Staff Reports

The nonprofit Friends of Connect Buncombe unveiled the first countywide trail and greenway brand on Nov. 5 during a celebration at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Asheville.

The soiree drew an eclectic mix of local elected officials, business-owners, civic leaders, cyclists, runners — and residents who are outdoors enthusiasts.

In 2012, Buncombe County adoped a comprehensive Greenways and Trails Master Plan to guide regional greenway development in the county.

The new branding introduced Nov. 5 — the result of a broad-based input effort over the summer — is billed as aiming to create a new identity connecting existing greenways across the city and county with those planned for the future, as a way to promote tourism, diverse and safe transportation options, and connect the community, heritage and natural beauty of the county.

“This new brand system powerfully connects our past to our future and we are grateful for the leadership and support of Friends of Connect Buncombe in catalyzing our efforts,” David Gantt, chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, told the gathering.

He added that, after schools and housing, one of the most consistent requests from constituents and business prospects seeking to relocate in Asheville is greenways and parks.

Gantt said he going to ask the community to support a bond to help build greenways, and point to other cities who have recently voted for such bonds, including Chapel Hill, in which 78 percent of voters passed a $5 million bond for greenways on Nov. 3. He also noted that last year, the small town of Wake Forest — on support of 66 percent of the voters — passed a bond for $4.6 million for greenways.

Meanwhile, Brownie Newman, a Buncombe commissioner and vice president of development for FLS Energy, said the effort to expand the greenways will have to be a public-private partnership. (Newman also was on the new branding steering committee.)

This past summer, Friends of Connect Buncombe partnered with other greenway advocacy groups and selected Arnett Muldrow and Associates to carry out the new branding development with geographic and thematic input meetings and research into the history of the county. The costs were covered by donations from members and sponsors and by in-kind services provided by Arnett Muldrow.

“People came in from every part of Buncombe County to participate, from neighborhoods, businesses, builders, the environmental community really was engaged,” Newman said. He noted he at first was skeptical of the idea, but now is excited about the vision.

“Greenways are so important to make Buncome County a healthy community for our future. We spend our days staring at computer screens at work, and at home with our kids. I love Pisgah National Forest and the Smokies, but we shouldn’t have to drive an hour when we want to go outside and go for a run or ride a bike,” he noted.

“Greenways are also important to job creation. There are few things that will add to the quality of life better than a greenway system,” Newman said.